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all fall down

kevin sellers

8/7/16

Pretty good dysfunctional family movie, especially the first two thirds. William Inge's screenplay, from James Leo Herlihy's fine novel, provides insight into quirkily interesting characters and John Frankenheimer's direction is, as usual, moodily intense, with sudden, shocking moments of violence; a girl being gratuitously punched in the face, a pole chaotically thrown through a department store window that frames a religious Christmas display, a son exploding in rage at his mother. Acting's fine too, for the most part, with Warren Beatty in his element playing a shit heel, Angela Lansbury perfect as the incestuous mom who created the shit heel (much the same role she played in Frankenheimer's "Manchurian Candidate") Karl Malden quite affecting as the defeated dad who sneeringly refers to his amoral son as "The Old Rhinoceros," and Eva Marie Saint never better as a kind, beautiful woman with a penchant for cars and inappropriate men. The only member of the cast I found hard to take was Brandon De Wilde who overdoes the callow, gee/gosh/golly younger brother thing. Plus, he mouths the single worst line of Inge's otherwise good script when at the end he tells Beatty, "You hate life. Well, I like life." Sounds like an anti abortion ad. In fact, I'd be inclined to give this movie an A except that the last third kinda goes off the rails with histrionic acting from Lansbury and Malden and perhaps my least favorite plot device, the ol gratuitous suicide. I just didn't buy it that Saint's character, who had exhibited zero signs of instability throughout the film, would bump herself off over an obvious sleaze like Beatty's Berry-Berry. (Oh, and I agree with the previous reviewer about the irksomeness of that name.) So let's give it a B plus.

All Fed Up

Clichae,H.A.

8/5/16

The Beatty character was preparing boomer males for their new roles post 1965! And why Saint's character, with her looks/figure/demeanor , was not married off prior to this story's date & time is nonsensical! At least Malden's & Lansbury's characters' marriage remained intact while the Climton character took off on his own & probably became President...etc.!

BEAUTIFULLY MADE FILM!!

Jonella Rose

1/12/15

I saw this film back in 1962 at a drive-in with a bunch of friends from high school. We were all 19 years old. I don't remember anything of the story but I did remember Warren Beatty's name "Berry Berry" as it stood out, for sure!!! (Years later I read a review of this film that knocked that name - which is also the name of a nasty tropical disease - as being a bit obvious and forced. Perhaps but it's one of the few flaws in this beautifully made film!) I saw the film again the other night on TCM and I was "blown away" as they say these days. The film is BEAUTIFULLY made - BEAUTIFULLY written, acted, directed, photographed and "choreographed." Perhaps it's a BIT dated in its carefully scripted melodrama - but it's actually a real beauty - a gem! I LOVED watching it - and loved it even more when I watched it again, right after I finished the first viewing. They don't make films like this anymore - Every moment is carefully thought out, choreographed, photographed beautifully, acted with veracity. Just LOVED this film and cannot recommend it highly enough - for those who have the ability to look beyond certain flaws such as a bit of dated quality, a bit of melodramatic quality. BEAUTIFULLY MADE film - Really tremendously enjoyable to watch. Highly recommend!!!!

Beautifully textured film...

David Patterson

3/28/12

It often takes a second viewing to form a firm opinion of a film. I have seen this movie for the second time in a few months. After the first viewing I was of the opinion that it was a little over-the-top. After a second look, however, I really appreciated the way the characters bounced off each other psychologically. I still found Beatty a bit theatrical, but the film was in a sense very much like a stage play. Angela Landsbury was brilliant in her controlled madness, Malden was on a roller-coaster ride with his puncuated humour, and de Wilde was in a sense the storyteller. We saw things primarily as he did. We even fell into the trap of defining various nuances of heroism, which sent us spinning like Duncan tops. The amazing Eva Marie was elegant and goddess like, which was ideal for the role as she was high on Clinton Willarts pedestal. She did a meticulous job of keeping her pain hidden, and then letting it ooze out like thick molasses. We must not forget Barbara Baxley who's brief and powerful appearence warned us that Barry Barry's violence was universal. In the end...we think that life is good!!

All Fall Down - 1962

Bernadette

5/21/11

Expectations low; watched this movie for the first time last night. Wow! It's hard to say which performance was most memorable, as each actor personified their characters so perfectly. A great study of dysfunctional people and their interpersonal relationships. Volumes were spoken without actual dialogue, which is a tribute to the quality of the cast's individual performances.

all fall down: beatty at his best

greg

5/21/11

Watched this last night for the first time. Wow! Great acting by the entire cast and I'll rate this close to Warren Beatty's best performance if not his best.

All Fall Down (1962)

James Higgins

2/20/10

79/100. Powerfully acted by the entire cast, with Angela Lansbury standing out. John Frankenheimer's direction is excellent, very finely written and with very rich characterizations. Fine pace, good cinematography. Dysfunctional family movies aren't just a product of the 90's and 00's.

Great film

Larry

5/15/08

Great acting. Just wish I had taped it. Just wish it was available on DVD or VHS.

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